Upcoming yearly observance highlights teen dating violence
February may evoke thoughts of the hearts, flowers and romance surrounding Valentine’s Day. However, for the second year the U.S. Senate has designated the week of Feb. 5 as Teen Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.
Teen violence is a significant problem often not recognized by teens, parents, teachers and others who have daily contact with adolescents. According to the American Bar Assn., about one in five female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner, and teens have a higher risk of intimate partner abuse than adults.
Fifty-nine percent of all teens report knowing friends or peers who have been victims of dating violence. Although 95 percent of reported victims are female, males are also victims. Dating violence is a pattern of controlling behaviors that one partner uses to gain power over the other, including any type of physical violence or threat of physical violence for control, emotional or mental abuse like constantly putting down or criticizing a partner, extreme jealousy, mood swings, explosive anger, use of force during an argument, blaming others for one’s problems and isolating a partner from his or her family.
Patterns of dating violence often start early, with victims as young as 11 or 12, and carry through into adult relationships. Violent relationships in adolescence have serious consequences for victims, many of whom will continue to be abused in their adult relationships and are at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behaviors, serious injury and suicide.
Because many teens are inexperienced with dating relationships, have romantic views of love, want independence from their parents and receive peer pressure to have dating relationships, dating violence is often hidden. Common signs that indicate a teenager may be experiencing dating violence are signs of physical injury, loss of confidence and difficulty making decisions, failing grades or quitting school activities, changes in mood or personality, new use of alcohol or drugs, emotional outbursts and spending less time with family and friends.
Teens can choose better relationships by learning to identify the early warning signs of an abusive relationship, realizing they have choices and believing they deserve to be treated with respect.
Liz Claiborne Inc. has partnered with the Education Development Center and Break the Cycle to develop Love is Not Abuse, a teen dating violence prevention curriculum to educate teens to identify, deal with and prevent abusive dating relationships. Awareness is vital to breaking the cycle of abuse and violence.
Harbor House, a division of Personal & Family Counseling Services of Tuscarawas Valley Inc., has staff available to meet with schools, churches, Scout troops, 4-H and other groups to present information from the Love is Not Abuse curriculum to teens. Anyone interested can call (330) 343-2778, ext. 210.
Abuse causes trauma that leaves emotional and/or physical scars that last a lifetime. Awareness is the first and very important step in breaking the cycle of abuse.
Marilyn Henry is chief executive officer of Personal & Family Counseling Services of Tuscarawas Valley Inc.